From fish to fireworks, Frolic guaranteed to satisfy

Movie on the beach returns; parade steps off earlier this year

The 58th edition of the South Shore Frolic, Bay View's traditional summer festival, is expected to attract some 60,000 people to South Shore Park this weekend.

"The Frolic is really a celebration of summer and a celebration of community," said Frolic spokesman Dave Reszel of the Bay View Lions Club, sponsor of the event.

There are two major changes in this year's Frolic compared to last year, Reszel said.

First, the popular movie on the beach will return at dusk Friday, July 13. At presstime, the name of the movie had not been announced, but Reszel said it will be a G-rated film.

The movie will be projected from a hill overlooking the lakeshore onto a 20-by-20-foot screen on South Shore Beach. Reszel said the atmosphere is similar to an old-fashioned drive-in.

"The kids love it," Reszel said. "Two years ago I walked through the crowd and you could almost hear a pin drop."

The Friday night movie on the beach returns after an absence in 2006 thanks to the sponsorship of Lee Barczak, owner of the Avalon Theatre.

A second change is the time of Saturday's South Shore Frolic parade, which will step off at 11 a.m. from South Kinnickinnic Avenue and East Conway Street, about two blocks south of East Lincoln Avenue. Frolic organizers decided to begin the parade earlier this year in an attempt to avoid hot temperatures that put a damper on the parade last summer.

Children will also enjoy two presentations by Discovery World, Reszel said - "Fire and Ice" and "Kitchen of Chemistry."

Frolic traditions, such as the Friday night fish fry, are back.

"Typically we get an excellent crowd of middle-aged people and seniors for the fish fry," Reszel said.

One of the highlights of Saturday's events promises to be music by Barbeez as well as Forge Fire, featuring Tom Trisco of Bay View. Trisco has been playing at the Frolic for the past two years with his tribute to rock artist Neil Young.

"This year he's bringing his band," Reszel said.

On Sunday, the South Shore Frolic Festival of Art returns, organized by members of the Bay View Arts Guild.

Another Frolic favorite, the classic car show, will also be presented on Sunday.

The popular Concertina Millie and her orchestra will be playing polka music on Sunday afternoon.

There will be children's games on the hill on both Saturday and Sunday, Reszel said, "and everybody walks away with a prize."

The South Shore Frolic Atomic Fireworks will be presented at the closing of the festival on Saturday and Sunday.

With all the entertainment, vendors and special features in place, the Bay View Lions Club is hoping the weather this weekend will be at least a bit cooler than the mid-90s that was believed to have kept attendance down last year.

Reszel said one of the best traditions of the Frolic is that many Bay View and South Shore families, neighbors and friends use the event as the center of reunions and parties that span generations.

Admission to the Frolic is free.

Frolic Schedule

All events are in South Shore Park, 2900 S. Shore Drive, except the parade.

Friday, July 13

• 4 to 9 p.m. - Fish Fry

• 6 to 9:30 p.m. - live country rock by Crossfire

• dusk - family movie on the beach

• after the movie - fireworks burst

Saturday, July 14

• 11 a.m. - South Shore Frolic parade begins at South Kinnickinnic Avenue and East Conway Street and travels south to South Shore Park

• 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. - live music by Forge Fire, with Tom Trisco's Salute to Neil Young

• 2 to 4 p.m. - Discovery World

• 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. - free kids games on the hill

• 6 to 10 p.m. - music by Barbeez

• 10 p.m. - Atomic Fireworks by Bartolotta's

Sunday, July 15

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Bay View Arts Guild Festival of the Arts

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - ninth annual classic car show

• 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. - live polka music by Concertina Millie and her orchestra

• 3 to 4 p.m. - free kids games on the hill

• 6 to 10 p.m. - live music by Barry's Truckers

• 10 p.m. - Atomic Fireworks

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